Improvement in wash-boilers



l. W. DEMING.

Wash- Boilers.

Patented May 27,1873.

OOwU/OOGOOGOOOG' GGOQrEtCccttc Wit/eases AM PHOTO-LITHOGIMPHIL` CQ NX [0350EA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN w. DEMING, oE PAEIs/MAINE IMPROVEMENT IN WASH-BCILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,301, dated May 27, 1873; application filed April 29,1873.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. DEMING, of Paris, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wash-Boilers, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to wash clothes in a wash-boiler by the circulation of the water through the clothes, under the action of steam generated within a chamber at the bottom of the boiler; and my improvement is designed to produce a more effectual circulation of the hot suds and steam, by combining with the false bottom an upper metallic gauze bottom, supported upon the cross-ribs between the dat top steam-chests arranged above the false bottom, and with the outlet-pipes arising therefrom, the advantage of which is that the steam pressure in the chests above the valved .bottom will force the suds against the flat tops into and out ofthe narrow exits 5 whereas the end chambers in rising to the top of the boiler and having outlet-holes, I have found greatly impedes andrendersinel'ective the circulation.

These improvements are shown in the perspective view, Figure 1, of the accompanying drawing, the side of the boiler being broken away for that purpose. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal and cross sections of the same.

The boiler` A has a bottom chamber, B, formed bythe false bottom G, which is supported upon side ledges a, and extends beneath the end steam-chest D, to hold it in place against the pressure of the steam. The chamber B is designed to receive the suds and to form the boiling-reservoir, into and from which the water is caused to flow in passing through the clothes; the latter not being immersed or boiled in the suds at all, but by the pouring action of the hot suds and steam upon them at the top of the boiler. The steam-chests extend only a short distance above the false l bottom at each end of the boiler; and from the flat tops thereof rise the pipes E, having inward open nozzles e at the top. The false bottom has a number of openings, b, and a valve, F, hinged on its under side, so as to close the openings b by the action of the steam in the bottom chamber, and to be opened by the descent of the water through the clothes.

i To insure the opening of the valve F, the perforations b `must be kept free and unobstructed by keeping the clothes from contact with said bottom, which I eifect by a metallic gauze bottom, G, placed above the false bottom C, and supported by ribs or caps c thereon, and a rim, d, around the edges of said gauze bottom G, so as to form a chamber H for the purpose of collecting the water as it passes through the clothes, and holding it until a sufficient quantity accumulates to open the valve Fand allow the suds to pass down through the openings b in the false bottom. In this way the circulating-openings b are kept entirely free from the clothes, as the latter are held clear above the false bottom and supported upon the upper gauze bottom. By the employment of this upper bottomGr, the opening of the valve F at intervals is rendered certain; but when the clothes rest directly upon the false bottom C, the valve is liable to remain closed and toy prevent the circulation of the water through the clothes; because, as the valve is` only opened by the weight of the water, the clothes, when resting on the A false bottom,

must absorb it, and cannot let it out upon the valve sufficiently to serve the desired purpose. The upper water-chamber H, however, serves this purpose eli'ectually, and renders certain the circulation, without which the clothes cauy y not be cleansed as desired. The water boiling in the bottom chamber, by the forc'e of the steam, closes the valve, and the suds are forced by the steam into the end chests Daagainst their ilat tops, and up through thepipes E, with a portion of the steam'upon the clothes, and passing through the same, collect in the upper chamber H, beneath the clothes, and again, by its weight, opens the valve F and passes down. 'lhe opening ot' the valve is controlled by a stop, I, on the under side of the false bottom.

Both ofthe bottoms are removable for clean ing out the boiler, and the latter is provided with the usual cover.-

Having described my invention, I claim- In a wash-boiler, the combination of the perforated bottom Gr, supported upon the cross-strips c, with the chamber H and the flat top end steam-chests D, the valved bottom C, and the exit-pipes E, theseveral parts being arranged to operate as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence` of two witnesses.

JOHN W. DEMING.

Witnesses: v

H. G. DAVIS, SUMNER E. NEWELL. 

